British and Irish Lions legend Jim Telfer recreates his famous 1997 "Everest" speech to encourage Lions fans to make the trip Down Under to follow the team

The legendary speech: Jim Telfer's "Everest" speech is a part of Lions folklore

British and Irish Lions coaching legend Jim Telfer has recreated his famous 1997 players pre-match gee-up meeting in an online video that provides a rallying cry for the men of Great Britain and Ireland to travel to Australia for the 2013 British and Irish Lions Tour.

The video is a tongue-in-cheek parody of the original “Mount Everest” motivational speech, which has become a part of the rich Lions folklore.

The recreation sees Telfer preparing the men of Great Britain and Ireland for the battle that faces them in overcoming their greatest challenge – convincing their wives and girlfriends for permission to travel to Australia and follow the 2013 Tour.

While the video takes a lighthearted approach, The British and Irish Lions Tour is sure to be an incredible experience for players and fans alike and shouldn’t be missed, according to Jim Telfer, who represented The British & Irish Lions both as a player and a coach.

"The British and Irish Lions Tour is the absolute pinnacle for players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales," said Telfer.

"There are no excuses to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m urging every UK man to climb their Everest and support our team."

As well as giving rugby union fans the opportunity to be part of sporting history, the event is also a stimulus for Australian tourism, with 20,000 fans from the UK alone visiting Australia for the 2001 Tour. Organisers anticipate a similar level of support for 2013.

The British & Irish Lions will play nine matches during the six-week Tour of Australia (5 June – 6 July), including three Test matches against the Qantas Wallabies and games against all five Australian Super 15 Rugby teams.

The three Test matches will occur in Brisbane (June 22), Melbourne (June 29) and Sydney (July 6), with the Tour also including matches in Perth, Canberra and Newcastle.